IAN DUNBAVIN is hoping to get the nod to play at the scene of probably his greatest Accrington Stanley display tomorrow (Sat).
It's FA Cup time and the Reds travel to League Two rivals Mansfield Town in the first round with the keeper, if selected, wanting another solid show.
At Field Mill in the league in September, Dun-bavin pulled off two penalty saves and the game finished 2-2.
But this time, the former Liverpool trainee wants to steer Stanley to a win and into the second round - which will also boost the club coffers by £16,000.
"The FA Cup is always special," said Dunbavin, 26, who was part of the Shrewsbury side which beat Everton and faced Chelsea a couple of years ago.
"I don't know if I will be picked but, if I am, I will relish it.
"I did okay in the league game at Mansfield, although it would have been better if we had come away with three points, but the FA Cup is totally different. It is a one-off game and all the lads will be up for it and want to get into the next round.
"But we don't want to think that far ahead. Mansfield are a good side in our division and it will be a scalp to beat them at their place.
"We all know though, that if we click, we will be okay."
Dunbavin will be vying for a first team spot with Rob Elliot who played for the reserves against Preston midweek.
But, while there is competition for the No 1 spot, the Reds do have a crisis with at least four players definitely missing tomorrow.
Captain Peter Cavanagh is suspended after picking up his fifth booking of the season in the 4-2 loss to Peterborough on Saturday.
And defender Robbie Williams will miss his first league game of the season after hobbling off with a groin strain in the same game.
Rommy Boco is out with his back and defender Julian N'Da damaged his medial ligament in training last week.
Meanwhile Andy Procter was having an injection on a shoulder injury also picked up at London Road while Jay Harris was struggling with a viral infection.
"Losing Robbie is a blow as he has been outstanding this month and I certainly don't think I have seen a better player at this level in the last four weeks," said boss John Coleman, who has right back Danny Ventre returning from his loan spell at Southport.
"Robbie will not make it and Procky is doubtful. We will struggle to have a full compliment on the bench as we are down to the bare bones.
"We won't be so much weakened but are just struggling with numbers."
Asked if either he or Jimmy Bell could put themselves on the bench, as he did last year against Worcester City in the FA Cup, Coleman answered: "Watch this space."
Stanley haven't had much luck in the FA Cup in the last two years following their heroics in 2003/2004 when they beat Huddersfield and Bournemouth but eventually lost to Colchester in the third round.
They have crashed out at the first time of asking in both of the last seasons to the underdogs - losing to Leigh RMI and Worcester City last season in a replay.
And Coleman is hoping for better at Mansfield. "We haven't done well in the last two seasons but it is just one of those things. We have got to get our heads down and not feel sorry for ourselves.
"When we played Mansfield in the league I think we still had the Carling Cup game at Watford in our legs from the Tuesday night before and I think they will see a fresher Accrington side."
And he is hoping midfielder-turned-striker Ian Craney can continue his scoring feats.
The 24-year-old has scored four in four games and has now got six for the season, including two against Peterborough.
"Ian is a proper footballer who can play anywhere and if he carries on like he is, we will have a job to keep hold of him in January," Coleman added.
While the front is taken care of, Dunbavin is hoping he can help tighten it up at the back as the Reds have conceded eight goals in the last two games.
"It is all about concentration, myself included," said the keeper. "I had a lapse at Hereford and it cost us.
"And Saturday's game at Peterborough was unbelievable as we should have been three or four-nil up at half-time and I don't know what happened.
"We have got to make sure we keep switched on for the full game and we have got to tighten up all over the park.
"Hopefully, if I am playing, I will keep a clean sheet tomorrow and we will be in the hat for the second round draw on Sunday."
- STANLEY reserves are set to play Rochdale, away, next Wednesday. Ex-Coventry man Rikki Baines, Ventre, and a host of traillists got a run out in the Reds second string against Preston on Wednesday.
